Bowden Francis breaks new ground by pitching into the sixth inning

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Two games in one day, two trades engineered, the Blue Jays were quite active on and off the diamond.

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When it came to the actual on-field events, the Blue Jays managed to earn a split of their doubleheader at Oriole Park at Camden Yards by taking the second game, 8-4, after dropping the opener, 11-5.

The offensive catalyst continues to be Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who went a combined 7-for-10, while driving in five runs and going deep twice, one in each game to give him eight long balls in his past 12 games.

In Toronto’s win, Vlad Jr. had four extra-base hits.

Baltimore went yard twice in each game Monday.

The night cap was delayed by one hour and 42 minutes because of rain.

It provided enough time for the Blue Jays to trade Yusei Kikuchi to Houston in a three-player package featuring right-hander Jake Bloss, a late scratch by the Astros who was scheduled to oppose Pittsburgh’s all-star in Paul Skenes.

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Bowden Francis started for the Blue Jays and got off to a slow start.

Through two innings, Francis had given up two homers.

Luckily, the Jays’ bats have been operating at a much higher level of late and were able to pick up Francis.

Once he settled in, Francis looked fine.

His battery mate was Brian Serven, who was called up Sunday to replace Danny Jansen following the veteran’s trade to the Boston Red Sox.

Following a two-out single in the sixth inning, Francis was lifted for Brendon Little.

Anytime Francis can pitch into the sixth inning is a good thing.

In fact, it was his longest outing of his career, giving the Blue Jays something to consider knowing the club has three bona fide starters remaining on its roster – Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt – following Monday’s events.

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Chad Green entered the game with two outs in the seventh inning, runners on first and second after Little yielded one run.

Green needed two pitches to record the third out.

He required eight pitches to retire the side in order in the eighth inning.

In the ninth, Genesis Cabrera began the inning in a non-save situation.

After surrendering a lead-off single, Cabrera ended the night on a strikeout.

In the afternoon opener, there wasn’t much to write home about, but the game did mark Addison Barger’s first big-league homer.

He wasn’t even scheduled to be in the lineup, but when Justin Turner was traded to Seattle before taking the field in the second inning the Jays had to make the necessary adjustments.

While Barger went deep for the first time, Vlad Jr. recorded his career-150th home run as he reached the 20-tater total on the season.

Game 1 starter Yariel Rodriguez was so bad the Jays optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo after he recorded only two outs in the first inning as Baltimore scored four runs.

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